[Sora (Aether) Cosplay] Summer Poolside: Reliving That Limited Edition Memory

This swimsuit set of Sora was actually shot several years ago. Back then, everyone still jokingly called themselves "Ark-boos" (Zhou Pi), and looking back now, it's still full of memories. Selecting this theme back then was precisely because I felt this summer vacation-style getup perfectly resonated with the weather and mindset at the time. Especially this outfit—the upper body is a light blue bikini paired with black-and-white interlaced straps, covered by a semi-sheer white sun-protection blouse that subtly gleams with a soft luster. The lower body features a white skirt with red trim plus a leg ring, making the entire look both refreshing and highly layered. To complete the pairing perfectly, I also specially prepared a fluffy golden side-ponytail wig, a purple-and-black floral hair accessory, and that highly conspicuous pair of pointed ears and a fluffy large tail, which serve as the soul of restoring this look.

The lighting on the shooting day was practically a gift from above. We happened to catch the "golden hour" right before sunset in the evening, where that amber warm light beamed from the side-rear, coating the pool, background greenery, and white houses with an incredibly soft filter. Sitting by the pool at that time, watching the wind and shadows ruffle the hem of my blouse, I felt my entire body relax. Especially the reflections on the water surface and the sparkling light spots added a lot of vivid summer atmosphere to the photos.

On the shooting set, I rarely put on airs myself, wanting more to express an unforced, highly natural vacation feel. Therefore, I attempted various poses back then, such as looking back while standing in the shallow water area, sitting on the shore reaching out to feel the sunlight, or leaning by the poolside looking at the camera lens. Some were movements conceived on the spot, while others were camera angles pre-discussed with the photographer. To capture that back-view photo beautifully, we also specially prepared that stand prop with a long rod, which perfectly synced with some elements of her original gear, ensuring the back profile didn't look too monotonous.

Although several years have passed, flipping through these photos again still allows me to feel that relaxed atmosphere from the shoot back then. Besides having to brave the blazing sun and endure occasional insects, the feeling of blending into one with the entire environment was incredibly precious. As a cosplayer, being able to restore a favorite look in front of the lens and capture beautiful light and shadow is actually a highly healing thing. The state for this summer Swimsuit cosplay look indeed tested the expressiveness of the makeup, hairstyle, and overall body posture quite a bit; savoring it now, I still feel it was a highly wonderful attempt.